Jul. 06, 2025

Series: Transformed   7-6-25

WITH EYES WIDE OPEN

(Romans 12:1-8)

I. Live with Eyes _____________________ Open. 

Romans 12:1 (Phillips) With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living, sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.  

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NASB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…But God…made us alive together with Christ.

Romans 12:1 (NIV- ESV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship.

- “Therefore” – whenever there is a therefore…

- “living sacrifice” – as opposed to a dead sacrifice.

- “Holy” - to being set apart or dedicated to the service of God.

- “Spiritual” (logikós) – Expression that is logical, reasonable, intelligent.

- “Worship” (latreía) – divine service, service as a slave, worship.

- “logikós (logical) latreía (service)” is to be understood as that service to God which implies intelligent meditation or reflection. (“…in view of the mercies of God”)

Matthew 18:21–30 ²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²² (NASB) Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 

       ²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. ²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 

       ²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. ²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ ³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

II. Live Transformed, Not _________________________. 

Rom 12:1-2 (NIV-ESV) ¹ in view of God’s mercy… ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

- “Conform” (syschēmatízō) – together with, conform to the same pattern outwardly.

- Common uses: like molding clay around a form or casting metal in a form.

- Passive Voice: when the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than 

performing it. (“Don’t ALLOW yourself to Passively BE Conformed to the pattern of the World.”)

- Imperative Mood: a verb form used to express commands, requests, 

instructions, or advice. It's often identified by its directness and the implied subject "you".

Romans 12:2 (Phillips) ² Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within… or ² …be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

- “Transformed” (metamorphóō) - a fundamental transformation in the nature of 

something without altering its identity. 

- "Conformed" - Resist conforming to the world's patterns and undergo an 

internal change through the renewing of your minds.

- Do not be… "Conformed" molded by external influences. 

- But be… "Transformed" changed from the inside out.

        - “Renewing” - a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.

Isaiah 55:8–9 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Romans 12:2 (ESV) ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

      - “Testing” - discern, approve, to draw a conclusion about worth on the basis of testing.

Winston Churchill “Those who do not learn from the past, 

are destined to repeat it!” 

Matthew 6:33 ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

III. Live Transformed Lives in ____________________

A. _____________________ Self-Assessment

Romans 12:3 (NLT) ³ Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves…

B. One Body, Many _____________________

Romans 12:4–5 (NLT) ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

C. Our Gifts are for ____________________

Rom 12:6 (ESV) ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them